Chizokho Vero
Kohima | August 10
In the wake of the enactment of Right to Education (RTE) Act in the country, the Nagaland government today sensitized the people on its provisions. The government has called for preparation of the perspective plan for the implementation of the Act. A state-level seminar on right of children to free and compulsory education (RTE) Act 2009 was held here today. In the seminar was stressed the need to discuss provisions of the Act in detail at various levels.
Minister for Higher Education Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu appealed to all officers in the field of education to plan carefully to suit local conditions. He sought suggestions for successful implementation of the Act. “You have to discuss it thoroughly,” he said and asked the officers to examine whichever area that are not consistent with the state. To implement it successfully, one has to move and act ‘very bravely,’ the minister said.
Dr. Liezietsu described free and compulsory education to all children of the age 6-14 years, a “massive task.” The minister said teachers equipped with necessary requisition can ‘improve the generation’ but if the appointment is made through pressure, ‘the generation will be spoiled.’ Also, Minister for School Education & SCERT Nyeiwang Konyak said “this Act is a very bold and ground-breaking move to effectively realize the goal of education for all”.
Stating that the implementation of the Act needs the help of one and all, the minister assured to do all he can for its success. He said that the success of the Act greatly depends on the joint and concerted effort of all in concern.
The minister said that if one looks at certain statistics “we get the picture that Nagaland may be doing quite well in education” in terms of the number of schools at different levels, overall student-teacher ratio, literacy and sizeable number of professionally-trained teachers.
He, however, said that in spite of all those positive achievements, “we continue to be burdened with the serious problems of drop-outs, irrational distribution of teachers, bogus teachers, poor classroom teaching, ineffective evaluation practices and overall poor academic and administrative /inspection performance.”
He was optimistic that “we all agree that this sorry state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue.” He was confident that the RTE Act, with its clear and strong directives, will be able to solve many of the problems. “We urgently require good school buildings with enough rooms and facilities, well qualified, trained and committed teachers and a system of education that ensures both quantity and quality education,” he said adding if RTE Act is examined it will see that all those factors of education are covered. While the SSA was earlier concerned only with government schools, RTE Act has now brought the private schools under its purview as well, he said. More than 50% of students belong to private schools. “This definitely calls for public-private partnership.”
Also sating that great things cannot be achieved by mere wishful thinking but through mission mode of honest and hard work and RTE requires no less, he said “We owe it to our children and all who follow to establish a solid and vibrant system of education that builds a well informed, skillful and responsible citizens.” As the RTE Act is a constitutional provision (Art 21-A inserted in fundamental right of 86th Constitutional amendment) for all children up to 14 years it shall be the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the Act as enshrined in the Constitution, he said.
The Act is applicable to all Govt schools, Govt. aided schools and unaided schools. Kesiezie said the RTE Act has been passed and enacted by Parliament in the Sixtieth year of the Republic of India to provide for free and compulsory Elementary Education to all children of the age of 6 – 14 years. The Act has been officially launched in the country on 1st April 2010.
The central government shall prepare annual estimates of capital and recurring expenditure for a period of 5 years for implementation of the provision of the Act where the state government shall provide 10% as its matching share. Union minister for finance already announced that the Government of India shall provide. Rs. 2, 31, 000 crore under MHRD for the implementation of the Act for a period of 3 years.
